Portret van een vrouw met vlecht in het haar 1860 - 1880

This is a portrait of a woman with braided hair by H. Laurent, using photography. The photograph has a gentle composition, the woman’s figure is slightly angled towards the viewer, creating a sense of intimacy despite the formal presentation. The sepia tone and the rounded rectangular frame soften the image, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The braid wrapped around her head adds to the formal structure, a complex yet contained form that draws the eye. The subtle gradations of light and shadow give volume to the subject's face, highlighting her cheekbones. Framing the woman in this classical style, Laurent engages with the semiotics of portraiture, where each element contributes to constructing identity and status. This photograph challenges our assumptions about representation, reminding us that meaning is produced through visual language.